So, you’re planning your BFF’s bachelorette party before her big day, and you want to make it as memorable as possible. The beach? Too relaxed. Europe? Too expensive. But we know the perfect solution… Las Vegas. Now, you might think Las Vegas is just crazy partying and hangovers. While there’s definitely that… even your milder friends will love exploring the strip, taking in the scenic views, and hanging by the pool during a day party. For those fellow party girls out there, there’s no shortage of clubs and parties to hit! For everyone, Vegas is filled with incredible shows, delicious food by your favorite celeb chefs, and an experience like no other where you can travel the world in a single city – from the canals of Venice to a restaurant and club in the center of the Eiffel Tower. When you’re planning your ultimate Las Vegas getaway, let this list of must-sees be your travel guide to make the most out of your bachelorette weekend!
Stay on the Strip
It’s tempting to opt for the deals and smaller boutiques off the strip, but spending a little more money to be in the heart of the city is worth it, we promise. The strip is bustling with people and adventure, with glittering lights and performances lighting the streets at every step. From the High Roller at the Linq to the fountains at Bellagio, simply walking down the street is an experience in itself. Plus, staying on the strip is convenient – it’s better to spend your money on booze rather than Uber rides back and forth, and will make getting back at the end of the night a breeze. Plus, you can have open containers on the strip, so you can bring your pregame with you to the next bar, and keep your drinks flowing even as you’re exploring the casinos. Staying near the action will guarantee your weekend will be convenient, easy, and stress-free.
Feed Your Hunger with Celebrity Chefs
So you checked in, popped the champagne, and are ready to explore the strip… aka, head to the bars & clubs. Before you go out, make sure to enjoy an incredible meal from one of the famous celebrity chefs whose restaurants fill the city. Can’t decide where to go? Food Tours Las Vegas offers a Foodie Walk tour that hits the most delicious places on the strip in just over 2 hours, so you can try some of the tastiest bites in the city all while visiting some celebrity chefs. If you have a sweet tooth, they also have Dessert Tour (which we didn’t try, but looks ahh-maz-ing).
Before You Go Out, See the Strip From Above
Most people simply walk the strip, but the best way to see it is actually from above. Before you head out partying for the night, book a helicopter tour with Maverick Helicopters to see the twinkling lights of Vegas from the sky. This is a completely unforgettable experience, where you can see glittering hotels line the strip with a guided tour of the biggest attractions. If you want an incredible day trip to remember, take their helicopter tour all the way to the Grand Canyon, complete with a champagne toast and hours devours. I wish I had the opportunity to take this tour because I can only imagine how breathtaking seeing the canyon from above would be. If you have some extra time but not the extra expenses, simply taking a day trip to visit the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Grand Canyon is completely worth it.
Pre-Game with the Best Bar Crawl
Okay, we know you really came to Vegas to party. So let’s get to it. The best way to experience all the hottest bars on the strip is with a bar crawl – and not just the kind you plan yourself. You want an organized tour that brings you directly to the best places, chauffeurs you along the way, gives you free drinks, and gets you past the long lines – and the best way to get that is through NiteTours. Their party crawls give you the ultimate bar and club experience, with a party bus with complimentary drinks to bring you to each location, no cover and VIP entry at top spots, and discount drink tickets at many locations. Our party bus even stopped at the Las Vegas sign so we could get a photo op! Whether you’re looking to hit a few boozy bars, a couple of clubs, or get the full nightlife experience – NiteTours has a deal for it (and they’re always adding more!)
Get the Variety Show Experience with a Boozy Twist
Aside from the partying, food, and night lights – Vegas is known for its variety shows with stunts like acrobatics, tight rope walking, and dangerous feats above the crowd. Absinthe has all that, with a raunchy, hilarious, booze-infused twist that literally had me laughing so hard I cried. Under a towering circus tent, Absinthe was a crass comedy show, mixed with stunts that will leave you in awe, combining the strength of heavyweight lifters with the delicate grace of ballet. And seriously, this one’s really adults only – so not only will you get a break from strollers and kids, but the host might sit on your face… speaking from experience here.
Combine Your Love for Burlesque & Gore
The other must-see show on the strip combines two of my absolute favorite things in the world – the gore and campiness of the zombie horror genre, and the sexy intrigue of burlesque dance. So, it’s no surprise that I’m recommending Vegas’s unique, subversive comedy burlesque show – Zombie Burlesque. Even though I’m a huge fan of the two, I was still incredibly impressed by the quality of this show. It was beyond anything I ever could have imagined – combining an incredible live band and singing performances with top-notch dancing and adult comedy that had me laughing until my sides hurt. They even pull people up from the audience for hilarious skits and serve your brains (jello shots) – so really, there’s everything to love about this live grindhouse theatre show.
See the Strip’s Best Clubs in Style
After seeing some of Vegas’s coolest shows, we know you want to get back to the strip to party. Turnt Up Tours is a female operated day & night club tour service that knows how to cater to ladies. Their professional female tour hosts bring you directly to the best pool parties and night clubs in a luxury bus decked out with two stripper poles and stocked with comp’d mixers. Plus, they get you no cover and VIP entry everywhere you go and have a professional photographer available to capture the moment with your girls every step of the way. It’s great to see all the hottest clubs in one night, rather than wasting the night waiting in line and paying a cover just to stay at one place. You can also try out the clubs to see which is your style, and decide which you want to go back to for a full night!
Brunch It Up
You didn’t think we’d forget about boozy brunch, did you? It’s an SGP essential, after all. We experienced the best of brunch with Vegas Valley Food Tours – where we filled our post-partying tummies with french toast, bacon & mimosas galore. While they no longer offer their (totally delicious) brunch tour, they have a Foodie tour and a Bites & Beverages tour that look totally divine. Whatever you go for, you’ll be touring some of the most delicious places on the strip with your crew, with perfectly paired sips to match your tastings. Keep a lookout on their site to find out when their brunch tour returns!
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Skip the Early Morning Flight
Let’s face it. You’re going to be hungover AF by the time this weekend is over. Do yourself a favor and skip the AM flight. Sleep in, brunch it up, and get to the airport on your schedule sporting oversized sunglasses and yoga pants with no shame. Sleep it off more on that afternoon flight, beauty. You’ll thank yourself for skipping the morning rush and giving your headache a little more time to clear off before heading back to post-bachelorette reality. (Not in hangover hell? Sit with your girls and use the flight to keep the party going all the way to an airport bar once you land. No shame in prolonging your awesome Vegas weekend, girl!)